AGRISOVGAZ presented innovative solutions for greenhouse complexes at the Protected Soil of Russia 2022 exhibition.

AGRISOVGAZ presented innovative solutions for greenhouse complexes at a roundtable discussion at the 19th specialized exhibition "Protected Soil of Russia – 2022." The event took place at VDNKh from June 1 to 3. It was organized by the Greenhouses of Russia Association.

The specialized exhibition "Protected Soil of Russia" is the main business platform presenting key trends in the development of greenhouse vegetable growing in the Russian Federation. Participants include leading manufacturers of greenhouse structures, technological equipment, and materials, equipment for sorting and packaging vegetables, mushrooms, flowers, seeds, fertilizers, and plant protection products, as well as specialists in protected soil cultivation.

AGRISOVGAZ, a manufacturer of modern greenhouse complexes, is traditionally a key participant at the event. This year, the main topic of its presentation was "Comprehensive Support for Greenhouse Construction Projects. Domestic Innovative Solutions for Creating and Managing the Microclimate of Greenhouse Complexes." Mikhail Vladimirovich Semykin, an expert at AGRISOVGAZ and Director of Greenhouse Operations, spoke on this topic as part of a roundtable discussion entitled "The Prospects for the Development of Farms Producing Vegetables and Cultivated Mushrooms in Protected Ground."

He discussed the state of the greenhouse industry in Russia. Over the past eight years, more than 1,000 hectares of modern greenhouse complexes have been built in our country, doubling vegetable production. In 2021, a total of 1.51 million tons of greenhouse vegetables were grown, including 650,000 tons of tomatoes and 860,000 tons of cucumbers. The report also noted that Russia continues to import vegetables, berries, and flowers. The actual market demand for the next five years, taking into account the capacity of Russian integrators to build facilities, is at least 1,200 hectares of modern greenhouses, and this does not include the 700 hectares that will inevitably be decommissioned in the coming years due to obsolescence and wear and tear.

To address this need, AGRISOVGAZ developed a domestic system for creating and managing microclimatic conditions in greenhouses. These innovations are essential for vegetable and flower growing, as well as for growing berries and other light-dependent crops. The microclimate cell is not only the most innovative development on the market, based on the best practices of imported equivalents, but also the most cost-effective solution. It combines the best features of fourth- and fifth-generation systems.

Additionally, AGRISOVGAZ is currently developing a specialized multi-tiered strawberry cultivation system. This system will enable year-round commercial yields of 20-26 kg per square meter.

At the same time, development has begun on a unique, high-rise greenhouse for intensive hop cultivation under photoculture. This solution will allow domestic beer producers to secure a wide variety of fresh hop varieties year-round, producing beer of a completely different quality with unique, rich flavor profiles. These greenhouses are aimed at both craft brewers and industrial brewing groups. According to industry statistics, Russia grows only 2% of the hops needed for beer production, with the remainder imported from the Czech Republic, Germany, and the United States. According to customs statistics, 3,600 tons of hops were imported into Russia in 2021 (in total, as whole or crushed cones, powder, pellets, or lupulin). AGRISOVGAZ's development of a unique greenhouse-hop farm will not only provide the industry with fresh hops year-round, but will also eliminate unnecessary hop granulation equipment from the production chain, thereby reducing capital costs for the facility's construction. According to company specialists' calculations, given the significantly higher yields in the greenhouse-based light farm and the import volume of dried hops, at least 200 hectares of new industrial-scale greenhouse-based light farms are required for hop production.

"We are pleased that AGRISOVGAZ has the opportunity to present its innovative developments at the specialized exhibition 'Protected Soil of Russia.' This dialogue with leading market players is more vital than ever for Russian businesses today, and the exchange of experience and insights with the expert and business community is crucial for the development of this sector," commented Maxim Mikhailovich Yakibchuk, CEO of AGRISOVGAZ.